Entries tagged with: ClearChannel

It's been almost nine years since Clear Channel spun off Live Nation (who went on to buy Ticketmaster). Now:

Clear Channelon Tuesday refashioned itself as iHeartMedia, accentuating how the lines between online and AM/FM radio are blurring at the country's biggest company on the broadcast dial.

"It's not a company with a bunch of old radio stations and outdoor [billboards] anymore," Chief Executive Bob Pittman said in an interview. "We've transformed, so let's now take a name that matters."

iHeartRadio is Clear Channel's digital arm, a Pandora-like online service that also hosts the digital streams of the company's 840 traditional radio stations like KIIS FM in Los Angeles. Effective Tuesday, CC Media Holdings Inc. became iHeartMedia Inc. The company's over-the-counter stock ticker symbol will also change, effective Wednesday.

Streaming is the industry's most promising segment of growth, but tech-centered outfits like Pandora -- the Web's biggest radio operator -- and on-demand subscription services like Apple's Beats Music and Spotify tend to attract the most attention as they race to dominate the burgeoning sector. By recasting itself as iHeartMedia, Clear Channel not only recognizes the company itself has changed but also believes it will get due credit in the tech community for its gargantuan scope, Pittman said. [CNET]

Madison Square Garden have cleared the way for a benefit concert on December 12 (12/12/12) to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy. No artists have been announced thus far, but Clear Channel Entertainment, the Weinstein Company and the Madison Square Garden Company are all involved.. the same trio that organizied "The Concert for New York City" after the 9/11 that featured David Bowie, Jay-Z, Eric Clapton, The Who, Janet Jackson, Elton John, Paul McCartney and many many notable others. Stay tuned for updates.

And just when we were starting to wonder if Billy's freak out was a PR stunt, Green Day announces:

Billie Joe is seeking treatment for substance abuse. We would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short by Clear Channel and to apologize to those we offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas. We regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances.

Which appearances are being cancelled is unclear, but the band is supposed to be on Kimmel and Ellen this week along with some other California gigs. Their proper tour with Best Coast doesn't start for a while though. Take care Billie Joe.

"While Clear Channel had no role in causing or contributing to the fire, we are pleased to resolve these claims and, hopefully, contribute in some way to a sense of resolution for the affected victims and their families," Clear Channel said. [NY Times]